Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-11-19
On the seamoId.


It was now las and the suspense OF tho
crowd near the gallows was like slow
torture. There was no relief, and newspa-
per men gazed at the gallows and noted
four ropes swaying slightly to and fro. Il
lacked Just seven minutes and half of
the hour Of high noon when single white
shrouded figure, above which was face Of
yellowish pallor, the face of August Spies,
passed the first post Of the gnliows. The
gaping crowd, ten feet below, half rose, in
voluntarily, from their chairs ut the frs.
glimpse of the appaFition advancing
across the sCantold. Spies looked
calm. and glanced at the reporters
with trace OF mis- old time cynical smile.
He walked firmly over the drop, guarded
by the grasp Of deputy, to the flrtherst
edge Of the Gallows. Following close came
Fischer, close enough to touch Spies
shroud had his hands not been pinionsd
under the white m1slin. Fischer's coun.
tenauee had
PECULIAR GLIsTEH,
totally unlike the ashiness Of Engels heavy
features, and in strange contrast with tho
dead lack Of color in the pinched lineaments
of Parsons. The once jaunty, viyaeious
Texan came last, withered old man. He
had aged twenty years since the day and
hour scarce twelve months before wheu he
tripped lightly into court before Judge
Gary, and tlippantly declared that he was
ready TO be tried at once for his life The
moment his feet touched the scaffDld Par
sons seemed to completely lose his identity
and to feel that his spirit was no Longer q
part Of his body. He had
WROUGHT HIMSELF INTO AN ECsTACY
Of solemn self gloriGcation. Only he, tho
one American, seemed to realize TO the full
that he must die in manner to impress, il
possible, on all future generations the
thought that he was martyr No
tragedtan that has paced a stage in America
made a more marvellous presentation of d
self chosen part, perfect In every detail.
The upward turn Of his eyes, his distant,
far away look, and, above ali, the attitude
OF apparent complete resignation that every
| fold Of the awkward sbroud only served 10
make more distinct, was By FAR the most
| striking feature Of attention of the rnllows'
picture. The squat form of Engel along
side, with bis stupid, wide jawed face,
made q hideous contrast 10 ParsOns'
assumption Of the halo of mar.
! tyr Fischer was head and shout Iers
taller than the other three, making his only
occasional looks Of too-evident brnydC
more noticeable, than might otherwise have
been, at sorry disadvantage compared with
tho
STEADY GOODNESS OF SPIES.
The iatter's exhibition Of quiet, thorough
nerve far surpassed as o wonder the dc.
meanor Of any Of his comrades. The fou,
burly deputies standing to the rear Of the
four condemned men began without delay
to adjus the ropes, Spies moose being the
one first placed. He did not appear TO re-
gard IL Of any more consequence than new
linen collar. The knot was slipped down
the cord, close against his neck. Spies aid
not show q tremor, but when the same pro.
cess WAS being carried out with Fischer
he turned and quietly WHISPERED
to the bailif some suggestion concernine
the rope. Fischer's occasional ard ,r yvas
quito noticeably lessened when he felt Inc
hempen strand, and Engle bit his under
! lip bard when his turn came. Just then
DIR. Murphy, a young physician STANDING
back Of Engle, whisperingly cracked M
in Engle's ear Incredible as Il may see m
the low.brOwed anarchist